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Posted By chrissie
Hi
I wonder if someone could help me.
We are a small company which carries out a filter cleaning process using Kerosene. We have completed a risk assessment for this process and based on this have classified the area as zone 2 in accordance with DSEAR. Would we need a specialist DSEAR risk assessor to confirm this or would a fully qualified risk assessor be sufficient?
Electrical equipment with the CE Mark - is this suitable for classified zone 2 areas?
Thank you so much for any help you can give me.
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Posted By D. Hilton
Any electrical and mechanical equipment having a source of ignition would have to be provided with the appropriate EX marking as per Directive 94/9/EC for this application the electrical equipment would be required to be CE marked and EX marked as Group II G (type of protection)and Temperature Class.
It would be unusual for the process to have a single zone as presumably the liquid is decanted or the system cleans via use of an open bath or spray?
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Posted By D. Hilton
By the way if the Kerosene is used at ambient temperature a potentially explosive atmosphere does not exist (Flash point is 38 degrees C)
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Posted By Brian Horrocks
I don't have the time to look up the flash point of kerosene - but as well as considering the flashpoint alone you also need to consider the ventilation conditions present while you undertake the task at hand. This is explained in the documents I mention below.
Especually important to consider, does the cleaning process cause a spray of kerosene to be created? Obviously smaller droplets are much easier to ignite than a tank of liquid. Any hot surfaces nearby?
Various guides are available to help in deciding if your zonal classification is correct and ventilation assumptions are valid.
For such a small assessment, suggest you try and obtain from a public library, the following documents are useful. BS standards can be obtained from public libraries.
BS60079 Pt 10 for zonal classification and ventilation. There is also a simple formula for estimating the volume of the hazardous zone.
Institute of Petroleum Guide Pt 15. Alternative to the above
BS1127. Identification of ignition sources. Less important, but useful.
As previously mentioned, its not the CE mark as such you need to check, but the EX IIG T(1-6) series of numbers/letters you need check, to decide if you have the correct grade of equipment for the Ex zone.
If you Google, quite a few free Ex/ATEX data charts are freely available to help you understand the Ex coding.
See not all all H&S Consultants charge you a small fortune for advice....
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Posted By D. Hilton
Point being if kerosene is used at ambient temperature then a hazardous zone cannot exist so ventilation etc is irrelevant.
In the event that the fluid is aerosolized as a higher FP liquid the area of concern is confined to the spray discharge area only as flammable vapours cannot be released.
Also EN 60079 part 10 has been revised by 60079-10-2: 2009
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Posted By Brian Horrocks
Quite agree, with your comments about flash points & ventilation.
But you also have to consider the wider work situation/activities - hence the need to consider spillage/hot surfaces/nearby ignition sources etc.
Could the kerosene find a route to one of these?
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Posted By Brian Horrocks
60079-10-2 is concerned with dusts.
60079-10-1 is more relevant, concerned with explosive gasses.
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Posted By chrissie
Thank you very much for all your help with this. It is really, really useful.
Chrissie
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